Customer referrals are a powerful way to build your business. Getting these referrals involves almost no costs and often leads to an easier sale (because they trust the person who referred them). It's also a great testimony to the quality of service you provided the referring customer. By learning to ask for them effectively, you can see a huge boost in your career. Developing a strong referral pipeline is critical in professions well beyond the "traditional" salesperson. Even if you don't have "sales" in your job title, referrals are important. They matter because: Professionals like attorneys or accountants need new clients. Want … [Read more...]
Make Your Next Business Meeting Better with LinkedIn
You did it. You got the meeting that you've been pursuing for months with a prospective client, business partner, or investor. You've got your pitch rehearsed and your presentation rocks. You've got your best outfit back from the cleaners. You are ready to go. But hang on a second. There's something else you can do - that you should do - before you go into that meeting. What do you know about the person you are about to meet? There's a saying that most sales are won or lost before the conversation ever starts, and that applies to all sorts of business meetings. Spend some time researching the person you are about to talk to. Going … [Read more...]